明(ming)末清初(chu),廣東(dong)著名學者(zhe)屈大(da)均《廣東(dong)新(xin)語》記載:“廣中龍(long)船惟(wei)東(dong)莞最盛(sheng),自五月朔至晦,鄉鄉有(you)之(zhi)。”東(dong)莞“五月時洪流(liu)滂濞,放於百(bai)里,鄉人為龍(long)舟之(zhi)會,觀者(zhe)畫船云合(he),首尾(wei)相(xiang)銜,士女如山,乘潮上下,日已暮(mu)而未(wei)散。”有(you)如此最盛(sheng)大(da)的(de)(de)龍(long)舟活動,必(bi)有(you)最盛(sheng)大(da)的(de)(de)龍(long)舟制作。大(da)汾村紅花(hua)廟尚存明(ming)代制作的(de)(de)“飛龍(long)”龍(long)船頭(tou),即可為證。
出于對龍(long)(long)(long)的崇(chong)拜,歷代(dai)在龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)的制作(zuo)上都相當(dang)講(jiang)究(jiu)。當(dang)年隋(sui)煬(yang)帝(di)為(wei)下(xia)江南而造的龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)可算是(shi)歷史上最豪(hao)華(hua)的“龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)”之(zhi)一(yi)了(le),據(ju)載(zai)該船高四(si)十五尺,長二(er)百尺,共(gong)四(si)層,一(yi)百二(er)十間房,簡直(zhi)可以媲美當(dang)今(jin)的海(hai)上游輪了(le)。這艘龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)后被燒(shao)毀,隋(sui)煬(yang)帝(di)又下(xia)令(ling)造一(yi)艘更大的龍(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou),被稱為(wei)“天子之(zhi)舟(zhou)”。
端午龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)一般分為龍(long)(long)(long)(long)頭(tou)(tou)、龍(long)(long)(long)(long)身、龍(long)(long)(long)(long)骨、龍(long)(long)(long)(long)尾四(si)部(bu)分,外加槳和(he)舵。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)制作(zuo)要求(qiu)很(hen)高,要請專門的(de)(de)(de)木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)工師傅,擇日開(kai)工,據傳(chuan)過去在動工前(qian)還(huan)須齋戒沐浴、焚香、拜神,一點(dian)也不(bu)能(neng)馬虎。木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)料要選用(yong)上(shang)等的(de)(de)(de),且多(duo)采(cai)用(yong)大木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)料來(lai)制作(zuo),如(ru)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)頭(tou)(tou),一般須用(yong)整(zheng)塊的(de)(de)(de)檜(gui)木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)來(lai)雕刻,以求(qiu)靈氣十足,至于船體,則多(duo)采(cai)用(yong)樟木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)來(lai)做(zuo),因(yin)為樟木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)能(neng)防蟲(chong)防腐,經久(jiu)耐用(yong)。制作(zuo)講(jiang)究的(de)(de)(de)還(huan)用(yong)整(zheng)木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)將龍(long)(long)(long)(long)尾雕刻出許多(duo)鱗甲。制成的(de)(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)再配以各色濃妝(zhuang),使之(zhi)更加栩栩如(ru)生。用(yong)傳(chuan)統材(cai)料(樟、檜(gui)等)和(he)傳(chuan)統方(fang)法(接榫(sun)處全用(yong)木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)針(zhen)而(er)不(bu)用(yong)鋼釘)制作(zuo)一艘(sou)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou),花費不(bu)少。所以,從擁有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)的(de)(de)(de)檔次(ci)就可窺(kui)出當(dang)地人的(de)(de)(de)經濟實力。一些(xie)少數民族也有(you)(you)獨(du)木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou),只(zhi)是那(nei)樣的(de)(de)(de)大樹就更難找了,也較浪(lang)費木(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)材(cai)。現今也有(you)(you)用(yong)玻(bo)璃纖維材(cai)料來(lai)做(zuo)的(de)(de)(de),既環保又方(fang)便(bian),但尚不(bu)能(neng)普(pu)及(ji)。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)的(de)(de)(de)長(chang)度也有(you)(you)講(jiang)究,廣東人造龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)多(duo)取好意頭(tou)(tou)的(de)(de)(de)尺寸,譬如(ru)船長(chang)33.88米(mi),寓意“生生猛(meng)猛(meng)”。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)(zhou)的(de)(de)(de)船身(龍(long)(long)(long)(long)頭(tou)(tou)卸下)平時(shi)多(duo)是沉(chen)放在河塘的(de)(de)(de)淤泥中,以防干(gan)裂,也符(fu)合“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)生大澤”的(de)(de)(de)傳(chuan)聞。每年只(zhi)有(you)(you)到了端午時(shi)節才“請龍(long)(long)(long)(long)出水”。
龍(long)(long)舟的(de)結構分(fen)為龍(long)(long)頭、龍(long)(long)尾、龍(long)(long)骨、龍(long)(long)腸(chang)、冚板(ban)諸部分(fen)。“傳(chuan)統龍(long)(long)”有(you)(you)28.8米(mi)長(chang)、1.50米(mi)寬(kuan),“國際龍(long)(long)”只有(you)(you)15.8米(mi)長(chang)、1.05米(mi)寬(kuan)。制(zhi)作(zuo)龍(long)(long)舟,從開料(liao)、選龍(long)(long)骨(底骨)、起水(拗(ao)彎龍(long)(long)骨,呈流線(xian)型)到刨光、打磨(mo)、上色,最后安(an)裝龍(long)(long)頭、安(an)裝尾舵等工(gong)序,一件完(wan)整的(de)龍(long)(long)舟才(cai)算完(wan)成,一般需要(yao)六七(qi)天。 要(yao)求,進一步貫(guan)徹“保(bao)護為主(zhu)、搶救第一、合理利用、傳(chuan)承發(fa)展”的(de)工(gong)作(zuo)方針,認真(zhen)做好(hao)非(fei)物(wu)質文化遺產的(de)保(bao)護、管理工(gong)作(zuo),為弘揚中華(hua)文化,推(tui)動(dong)社會主(zhu)義文化大發(fa)展大繁榮作(zuo)出新的(de)貢(gong)獻。
從良木到龍舟,仍需和(he)數(shu)百年(nian)前一樣(yang),歷(li)經數(shu)十(shi)道工(gong)序,需要6個(ge)工(gong)人同時做工(gong),花費20天時間,釘(ding)(ding)入上(shang)百斤鐵釘(ding)(ding),耗去6立方(fang)(fang)木材(cai),無(wu)數(shu)次手(shou)工(gong)的(de)打(da)磨、撫平和(he)拼接(jie),方(fang)(fang)成為(wei)龍形,這種民間傳(chuan)統的(de)手(shou)工(gong)制作龍舟方(fang)(fang)法一直延續至今。
中國(guo)是龍(long)之(zhi)鄉(xiang),也(ye)是龍(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)之(zhi)鄉(xiang),龍(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)競渡有數(shu)千年歷史。龍(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)是龍(long)之(zhi)化身,龍(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)是龍(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)競渡的(de)載(zai)體(ti)。龍(long)舟(zhou)(zhou)制作不(bu)僅關系競渡的(de)比(bi)賽,更關系到歷史的(de)傳承,傳統文(wen)化的(de)發揚光(guang)大(da)。
東莞(guan)市是典型的(de)水鄉,從明代起就是廣東主要競(jing)(jing)渡的(de)地區,其(qi)歷史悠久。現在,中堂鎮已被中國龍舟(zhou)(zhou)協會授予“中國龍舟(zhou)(zhou)之鄉”。龍舟(zhou)(zhou)競(jing)(jing)技越來越受到(dao)當地民眾的(de)歡迎(ying),龍舟(zhou)(zhou)需求量也不斷增(zeng)加。隨著龍舟(zhou)(zhou)制作工藝水平(ping)的(de)提高,龍舟(zhou)(zhou)競(jing)(jing)渡更(geng)加得(de)到(dao)了(le)發(fa)揚和傳承。
龍(long)舟作為民(min)俗(su)文化(hua)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)重要組成部分(fen)是(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)華民(min)族的(de)(de)(de)一個文化(hua)符(fu)號。中(zhong)(zhong)堂有規模(mo)(mo)的(de)(de)(de)賽(sai)龍(long)舟已有一百(bai)五十年歷史。每踏進農歷五月(yue),中(zhong)(zhong)堂鎮江面上(shang)就(jiu)會歡呼(hu)聲震天、鑼(luo)鼓聲動(dong)地。中(zhong)(zhong)堂龍(long)舟景既有“趁景”(即自由競渡(du)),也(ye)有錦標(biao)賽(sai);分(fen)別(bie)有五月(yue)初二的(de)(de)(de)斗朗,初四(si)的(de)(de)(de)槎窖,初六(liu)的(de)(de)(de)潢涌(yong)、江南,初八的(de)(de)(de)馬(ma)瀝,五月(yue)十三的(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)堂等(deng)上(shang)規模(mo)(mo)的(de)(de)(de)景點,它們從農歷五月(yue)初二到(dao)五月(yue)十三吸引大批的(de)(de)(de)觀(guan)(guan)眾前去觀(guan)(guan)看,是(shi)一項很好的(de)(de)(de)全民(min)健身運(yun)動(dong)。
在國(guo)務院公布(bu)的(de)(de)“第(di)二(er)批(pi)(pi)國(guo)家(jia)級(ji)非(fei)物(wu)質文化遺產(chan)名錄(lu)”和“第(di)一批(pi)(pi)國(guo)家(jia)級(ji)非(fei)物(wu)質文化遺產(chan)擴展項目名錄(lu)”中,東莞(guan)市龍(long)舟制作技藝入(ru)選(xuan)。在本次公布(bu)的(de)(de)兩(liang)批(pi)(pi)非(fei)物(wu)質文化遺產(chan)中,龍(long)舟制作技藝是(shi)東莞(guan)唯一上(shang)榜項目。
1、建立保護區(qu)。在東莞市中堂(tang)鎮的斗朗(lang)、東向設保護區(qu)。
2、對中堂龍舟(zhou)制(zhi)作進行普(pu)查挖(wa)掘、整理,工藝(yi)流(liu)程編寫存(cun)檔(dang)等。
3、對龍舟制作(zuo)工藝(yi)進(jin)行保(bao)護(hu),把(ba)龍舟制作(zuo)過(guo)程(cheng)、工藝(yi)、材料、流程(cheng)、工序進(jin)行拍攝記錄。
4、對龍舟(zhou)制作傳(chuan)承(cheng)人的保護,對老師傅進行登記、建檔,建立傳(chuan)承(cheng)人生活保障機制和傳(chuan)承(cheng)人培養制度。